Newman association of India is a National movement of Catholic graduates and professionals in India. It is affiliated to PAXROMANA and ICMICA an International Catholic Organization, head quarters at GENEVA, SWITZRELAND. It is recognized by the CBCI during the year 1964.
Aims & Objects: To promote unity and solidarity among Catholic graduates and Professionals. To Spread the Christian literature by translating into regional languages. To organize Bible classes and study circles in the units to know day to day information on the church documents and
to have sufficient knowledge in the areas of socio, educational, moral and ethical issues.

The vision and mission of Newman Association of India is to represent the entire catholic graduates and professionals in the country to promote their solidarity and unity by establishing Christian faith in the educational, religious, cultural, intellectual fields and to enable them to take active part in nation building and to render effective service for bringing about the divine reign of love, justice and peace and the new society of liberty, equality and fraternity as envisaged by Lord JESUS CHRIST.

Newman Association unit in our Diocese has started during the year 1996 by Rev Fr. Kuriacose SJ, who encouraged the catholic graduates and professionals in the field of literature, Bible studies, study circles etc.. Our unit conducted a regional seminar on “Indian Culture” during the year 1994 in Andhra Loyola College under able Presidentship of Most Rev Joseph Thumma, the former Bishop of Vijayawada. Most Rev. Mana Parambil, Archbishop of Assam region delivered the key note address. In 2002 Awards celebrations were organized with the blessings of Most Rev Fr Prakash Mallavarapu. 12 best educational awards were presented to the teachers of Vijayawada Diocese.
Every year we are organizing the same programme by inviting the National leaders as chief guests and honour the best teachers. Educational seminars have been organizing once in six months. Dr Maddala Anthony elected as the National President of Newman Association of India in the year 2000 and took part in International Seminars in U.S.A, Europe, and Africa etc. Catholic Employees meetings have been organizing during Christmas season and beginning of the Academic year. Special coaching for the Catholic graduates has been conducting during the summer holidays to take part in the competitive examinations conducting by both state and central Governments. The Newman Association of India is grateful to the Bishop of Vijayawada Diocese and the Priests, particularly to the Catholic officials who are encouraging this movement.

The Catholic Association of Vijayawada was started in 1958 in the diocese of Vijayawada with the blessings of Bishop Ambrose De’ Battista. This association organizes many training programmes, Dalit Christian Rallies at Delhi, Christian public meetings by inviting central cabinet ministers like Hon Sri Seetharam Kesari, Hon Sri Oscar Fernandez etc. Also met the Prime Ministers Smt. Indira Gandhi, Sri Rajiv Gandhi, and Sri P.V. Narasimha Rao and submitted the memorandums such related to the issues of Dalit Christians along with Most Rev Joseph Thumma, Fr Thanam Marreddy. After a gap of five years the AICU at National level directed the Diocesan units to have its own constitution and work under their Bishops and spiritual directors. The present body came to force by its national affiliation during 2007 July. At present the Catholic Association of Vijayawada is working effectively with the blessings of our Bishop Most Rev Dr Prakash Mallavarapu as patron and Rev. Fr. John Raju as the spiritual Director.

Activities under taken: Worship prayers and mass liturgical songs at the time of Gunadala Festival have been conducting since 2005. Regular meetings have been organizing and discussed on the local issues. Meet the collector and some of the MRO’s and submitted the memorandums connected to the issues of Caste and Religious certificates. This association Organized: Dharnas and Rallies at the Asst. Collector’s office, on the issues of atrocities against Christians and 30th Annual General Body Meeting of All India Catholic Union at Pastoral centre, Nagarjuna University.

The first presidium of Legion of Mary in the diocese of Vijayawada was established, when Fr. K. George was the parish priest of St. Peter’s Cathedral (1963-1971). The majority of this presidium were mostly Anglo-Indians, Tamilians and a very few Telugus. Though there are only 16members, the presidium was very effective. Moreover most of them were well educated and job holders. The second presidium was started in Ranigarithota, near Pandit Nehru Bus stand and the third one in Taylorpeta. From 1972-1979 Fr. Vivengi PIME was appointed as the parish priest of St. Peter’s Cathedral and under his guidance lots of changes occurred. In the year 1974 “Star of the Sea – Senior Curia” (higher council) was established in a solemn manner. Sanatus of Chennai – Legion of Mary Office Bearers and Curia office Bearers of Secunderabad also participated in this function. For the first Curia of the Diocese, St. Peters Cathedral, Mr. Anthony was elected as the president.
During the time of Fr. Picascia PIME (1979-1984) many presidiums were established in several places of the Diocese: Vinchipeta, Pezzonipeta, Gollapudi, Catholic Centre Gunadala, St. Paul’s Cathedral (Patamata) and Christurajpuram etc. Under the able guidance of Rev. Fr. Francis Sales (1984 – 1991) two more Curias were established in Gannavaram and Kesarapalli. Most Rev. Bishop Joseph Thumma gave a green signal to the establishment of Presidiums and Curias. Once in a month from 2.30 – 4.30 PM a meeting used to be held and remarkable was the presence of the parish priests from the beginning to the end, which indeed encouraged and inspired the legionaries.
From 1991-1998, Fr. Mallavalli Balaswamy rendered meritorious services for the growth of the Legion of Mary. Under his guidance many more presidiums were established in Nuzvid, Nandigama, Mylavaram, Tiruvuru, Hanuman Junction, Jyothi Nagar, Theresa Nagar, Vattigudipadu, Vuyyuru, Kankipadu, Pamarru (Korukollu), Machilipatnam, Kanchikacherla, Kondapalli, Polukonda, Nagayalanka, Keesara, and in some parts of Guntur and Eluru dioceses; and two Curias (Higher Councils) were established in Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Nizamabad, Khammam. In Bhimavaram parish, 12 villages joined the Legion of Mary. On this auspicious occasion, one day get together was arranged for all the legionaries and several things pertaining to the legion of Mary were discussed like; duties, ways of functioning, prayers, House Visits, exemplary and witnessing life etc. At present we have 11 Curias in the diocese of Vijayawada.
1. Vijayawada, St. Peter’s Cathedral, 1-Town Senior Curia-Cum-Comitium
2. Gannavaram Parish Centre – Curia
3. Kesarapalli – Parish Centre – Curia
4. St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish Centre Curia
5. Gunadala Matha Parish Centre – Curia
6. Mylavaram Parish Centre – Curia
7. Satyanarayanapuram Parish Centre – Curia
8. Gudivada II – Town Parish Centre – Curia
9. Kankipadu Parish Centre – Curia
10. Hanuman Junction – Jyothinagar Parish Centre – Curia
11. Machilipatnam Parish Centre – Curia
All the preparations and plans were made for the establishment of five more Curias in our Diocese but unfortunately due to the occurrence of the Natural calamities like flood, there was a serious delay in fulfilling the above mentioned agenda. At present in our diocese we have more than 250 presidiums with 4500 people as the legionaries rendering their services with passion and commitment. 4. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, GUNADALA
National Spiritual Adviser : Msgr. Chinnappa Merugumala
Regional Spiritual Adviser : Fr. Lamu Jaya Raju
National President : V.M.J. Balaswamy
President of Central Council : Mr. Jacob
Address : St. Vincent De Paul Society
Bishop Grassi High School
Gunadala
Vijayawada – 520 004
Krishna Dt.
Tel :
This society is named after St. Vincent De Paul who was born in Southern France in 1581 and devoted his life to helping the poor and the underprivileged. It is basically a lay people’s organization and essentially Catholic in nature. Frederic Ozanam (20), a second year Law student formed the society with five of his other friends in Paris in 1813. He formed the first group which was called the Conferences of Charity which later came to be known as St. Vincent De Paul Society. Their challenge was to help the poor, house visits and offer friendship and support. Of the two separate established groups for men and women i.e., Confraternities of Charity (1617) by Vincent De Paul, women’s branches were more successful, spreading out of France. Vincent De Paul society now grown into world-wide organization established in 144 countries across the length and breadth of the world. The society in India is the second largest in number of conferences and members.
This society was first introduced in India by French missionaries at Pondicherry and officially it was started in Bombay in 1863. The basic unit of the society is the conference functioning at the Parish level. It is of lay people who are willing to sacrifice their time, knowledge and energy for the sake of the poor and needy beneficiaries. The principle objectives of the society are alleviation of poverty, provision of medical and educational assistance, disaster relief, group and self help project schemes etc among the people irrespective of caste, creed or colour.
In the diocese of Vijayawada, there is one Central council and five area councils: 1). St. Paul’s area council 2). St. Peter’s Area Council, 3). St. Mary’s Area Council. 4). St. Joseph’s area council and 5). St. Thomas Area Council and 67 conferences which are functioning with total number of 658 active members and 254 auxiliary members and they are helping 385 adopted families. In the diocese they are helping the adopted families with the help of Twinning Schemes, Scholarships Schemes, Training Schemes and projects.